with STEM™ CAREERS JOB KIT GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Mix creativity with technology to communicate ideas and information across different mediums and audiences
Work by Holly Theissen
Shape the way we see the world
From passion to profession: turning your creativity into a graphic design career
robbie carter Senior designer, illustrator + Lecturer
Like many students leaving school, I was lost and not too sure where to go with my life.
I never knew about the opportunities of graphic design, originally going into engineering and then architecture. I worked on some great projects, but realised I never truly enjoyed designing buildings. However, I did love creating posters on the side of them, and designing T-shirts. Eventually, I would knock on the door of Billy Blue College of Design, where I studied a Bachelor degree in design, specialising in communication design.
I’m a visual storyteller, and graphic design has given me the ability to share my ideas and creativity across many mediums (like social media, website design, app development and branding). Each day can present a new creative challenge and although some days might be a little stressful, nothing beats the rush of a happy client and a well-executed idea.
At Billy Blue, we develop the foundations of creativity and give you the tools you need to go down any creative path. The benefits of studying the Diploma of Graphic Design are immense. You are taught by professionals with backgrounds and
Graphic design is all about curiousity”
a wealth of knowledge from all areas of the industry. The projects are designed to mimic real-world scenarios and you are treated as emerging design professionals, not students. Our classes and projects have been informed by the industry as we look to keep up with the latest technologies and trends in design. We seek to set you up for working in the real world.
If you’re considering graphic design, know that it’s all about curiosity. It isn’t only about creating something pretty but understanding how to connect with others through ideas, shapes, type, and colours. It’s about how you order elements to create effective communication. If you’re curious about how to create and share ideas visually, then maybe graphic design is for you.
Robbie Carter Senior designer, illustrator, and lecturer at Billy Blue College of Design
VISUALISE THIS
Do you want a career where you get to take creative risks, use tech, solve problems and be in-demand? Welcome to graphic design
Agraphic designer is a visual storyteller who transforms ideas into compelling visuals, using illustrations, typography, and layout to communicate messages that inform, inspire, and engage audiences. This can take the form of logos, infographics, packaging, advertisements, and layouts for brochures, magazines, web and apps. To do this, they need to keep up with latest design trends and software tools, and be able to work with clients, fellow designers, marketing specialists and other creatives like editors and writers.
It’s a great time to become a graphic designer. According to SEEK, graphic designer roles are set to grow by 21.7% in the next five years. A foundation in graphic design could see you working for leading design studios, advertising agencies, web design or marketing companies, print and online publishers, retailers, or non-profit organisations. You could even work for
Epic employers
Students learn from industry in and out of class. Here are just some of the partners Billy Blue works with.
yourself. In fact, 90% of graphic designers work as freelancers*, running their own businesses and setting their own schedules.
To get there, you will need a qualification in graphic design and Billy Blue College of Design (powered by Torrens University) has you covered. You’ll be taught by industry experts who have strong connections to the design world, plus you’ll get to work on real-world projects and grow your own network of contacts before you graduate! And major bonus: Billy Blue graduates are in demand and many find themselves employed** before they even graduate. Find out more about becoming this career, where it can take you and what to study on the following pages.
The global graphic design market size is $43.4 billion!* All
Graphic design by the numbers
• Ads that grab attention get 45% more people to take action.
• Animated designs make people interact 58% more.
• Websites with different typography styles are 40% easier to read.
• Companies with consistent branding boost brand loyalty by 60%.
• 70% of mobile apps with balanced design keep users coming back longer.***
Some of the benefits of studying the diploma or degree at Billy Blue include:
✔ Getting hands-on with industry-standard software.
✔ Access to a free Adobe Creative Cloud License for your study period and six months after graduation.
✔ Flexible study options.
✔ Learning from industry experts like brand ambassadors and creative directors.
✔ Gaining real-world experience through an internship or industry project.
✔ Graduating with a professional design portfolio, ready to start your career as a professional troublemaker in design.
Pick your path
Diploma of Graphic Design – Billy Blue
The diploma focuses on design awareness, problem-solving and technical skills. You’ll gain an understanding of design thinking, composition, hierarchy, alignment, typography, illustration, symbols, branding, interaction and motion design.
Learn more here: bit.ly/ DiplomaGraphicDesignBB
Or scan the QR code
P.S. With a Diploma of Graphic Design under your belt, you can step right into industry, or transition into the second year of the Bachelor of Communication Design.
Bachelor of Communication Design – Billy Blue
This degree equips you with a solid understanding of design principles, conceptual thinking and typography; while advanced level subjects delve into strategic thinking, brand strategy, packaging design, storytelling, customer experience design, and service design. Students also get to explore emerging areas such as sustainable design, user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design, and design thinking methodologies.
Explore this degree: bit.ly/ BachelorCommDesign
Or scan
Award winners
Billy Blue College of Design is the place to be for anyone serious about making it in the creative industry. In 2024 alone, Billy Blue students won over 60 design awards, including DIA’s Graduate of the Year awards, Indigo’s International Design Awards and AGDA’s Graphic Design Awards. Now they’re designing for top agencies. This could be you.
Graphic design trends for 2025
According to Adobe, here’s what’s in.
AI-powered design
Designers are using AI to enhance inspiration, ideation, and final touches. While it amplifies skills AI doesn’t replace designers.
Bold minimalism
Think bold typography, vibrant colour palettes, and simple designs with a strong emphasis on key elements.
Maximalist illustration
Lots of vibrant, intricate illustrations with bold, detailed elements that demand attention and engage viewers with their complexity.
Handcrafted
Organic lettering and textured designs are on the rise, reflecting a shift towards more natural, analogue aesthetics.
Designing his future
Equipped with a passion for design, Sam Keast is partnering with fellow creatives to build a creative agency
Sam has always been interested in the power of visuals and how design can influence a customer’s perception of a product. He kicked off his design career path at Billy Blue College of Design with a Diploma of Graphic Design, followed by a Bachelor of Communication Design.
“The diploma gave me a solid foundation, but I wanted to go deeper into it,” he explains. “Continuing into a bachelor’s degree helped me refine my style, develop more advanced skills, and gain a better understanding of the strategic side of design.”
Throughout his design studies, Sam explored branding, marketing, motion and UX/UI. He loved the mix of creativity and problem-solving, plus seeing a design concept come to life and having an impact in the real world. One of the takeaways from his studies was learning about the impact design can have on human psychology, such as colour, layout and even typography impacting human emotions and behaviour.
At Billy Blue, Sam also enjoyed the hands-on approach, with small class sizes for direct feedback and lecturers who work in the industry, bringing real experience into the classroom.
“The focus on portfolio building was also a game changer. It made studying feel more like preparing for the industry rather than just theory,” he says.
a
start when applying for jobs and inspired Sam to build an agency with like-minded creatives, rather than taking a job at an existing business.
In this agency, Sam and the team plan to create a full-service organisation that uses all aspects of what he learned at uni, including design, film and photography, social media and digital marketing.
While getting that up and running, Sam plans to do freelance design work, as well as keep up with his gigs in the live entertainment business, where he has worked as an audio engineer for the past 17 years!
continuing into a bachelor’s helped me develop advanced skills”
Portfolio building gives students
head
The right environment
Work integrated learning and an internship while at uni helped Alicia Devereaux land a dream role in environmental design
When you think of design, you may think of websites and brochures. But for Alicia, design is interconnected with physical spaces, as she transforms how people move, interact, and feel within an environment through signage, environmental graphics and wayfinding (how people navigate themselves in a space). As a junior designer in the environments team at Frost*collective, she works with architects, urban planners and clients to blend creativity with functionality to transform built environments.
Billy Blue College of Design played a big part in shaping Alicia’s career. With a hands-on, industry-focused approach, she developed her skills and explore a diverse range of electives. These included branding, typography, UX, motion graphics, and spatial design. A work integrated learning elective allowed her to gain real-world experience on a collaborative project that mirrored the studio environment, helping her transition to the workforce.
During her studies, Alicia worked at Arcadia Landscape Architecture and completed a social media internship at ACME Media, gaining experience in spatial design and digital design. It was during Billy Blue’s industry portfolio presentation sessions that introduced her to Frost*collective.
One of her most meaningful projects? Designing environmental graphics for Sydney Children’s Hospital, where she worked with patients to incorporate their drawings into the final designs.
“Whether it’s making a hospital feel more welcoming through thoughtful wayfinding or enhancing a city precinct with striking environmental graphics, it’s rewarding to create work that is both functional and beautiful,” says Alicia.
Day in the life 9:00 AM
Morning meeting to discuss ongoing projects and deadlines.
10:00 AM
Design development: Working on wayfinding concepts, signage layouts, or environmental graphics. 12:30 PM
Lunch break. This is often spent catching up with colleagues or taking a walk.
1:30 PM
Client meetings or internal catchups to discuss design progress.
it’s rewarding to create work that is both functional and beautifuL”
3:00 PM
Refining design details, preparing files for production, or collaborating with architects and signage contractors.
6:00 PM
Wrap up tasks and plan for the next day.
Bachelor of Communication Design, Billy Blue College of Design
Graphic designer, Arcadia Landscape Architecture
Social media intern, ACME Media
Junior designer, Frost*collective
alicia juniordevereaux designer
Get the job!
Start your graphic design study and career path right here
Electives checklist
Select these subjects in Year 11 and 12 to get a head start on your future studies:
✔ Visual arts
✔ Design and technology
✔ English
Show off your talents
Each year the Bright Awards showcase the bold creative talent of Year 10-12 students across Australia. Hosted by Billy Blue College of Design, this competition gives rising designers and tech innovators the chance to shine, get noticed by industry leaders, and win prizes! Find out more at bit.ly/BrightAwardsComp
Choose this career if you...
✔ Love creating new ideas, illustrations, working with fonts and visuals online
✔ Are always spotting inspiration from movies, street art or photography
✔ Can’t help but notice little details
✔ Have a creative brain and are a creative at heart
✔ Are full of ideas and run wild with your imagination
Skill
up
Besides being a talented designer, in the graphic design industry you’ll also need to be:
✔ Super creative
✔ A problem solver
✔ A feedback taker
✔ Good at paying attention to the little things
✔ A collaboration pro
✔ A visionary thinker
Follow apply
For a design scholarship. Explore your options at bit.ly/TorrensScholarships
Design Matters
This podcast features lots of great chats with industry-leading graphic designers and other creatives. It’s hosted by American artist and designer Debbie Millman and is the first and longest running podcast about design.
Creative Clinks
Listen read
Join interior designer Barbie and graphic designer Georgie (who are both Billy Blue alumni) as they chat about different aspects of being in the design industry and how creativity influences our lives.
See what Billy Blue design students and alumni are up to: @whoisbillyblue
Billy Blue College of Design
Billy Blue College of Design
And check out the CVs of Billy Blue lecturers, Hannah Schmith and Robbie Carter, who were awarded as Top 30 lecturers in the 2024 The Design Kids Awards:
Hannah Schmith
Interaction of Color by Josef
Albers
A popular art education book that explains a set of principles for understanding and perceiving colour in different ways.
Design is Storytelling by Ellen Lupton
Filled with tools and insights into engaging people and shaping behaviour with design. Helpful for anyone who wants to work across graphic design, product design, service design and user experience.
Robbie Carter
Watch
Day in the Life of a Billy Blue Graphic Design Alumna (TikTok)
Holly Theissen takes you behind the scenes of a typical day in the design world at Vogue Australia. bit.ly/HollyDITL
